About Us

Umeed (hope in both Hindi and Urdu) is an inclusive speech and democracy project committed to promoting compassion, empathy, solidarity, and open dialogue within and across the communities of the global Indian diaspora. We embody a shared vision of a harmonious, inclusive, and pluralistic India and Indian diaspora, where diversity is celebrated, and every individual is empowered to contribute to positive change.

Through strategic campaigns, creative storytelling, and community engagement, we work towards nurturing a society rooted in justice, dignity, equality, and our shared humanity. We are dedicated to creating safe and vibrant spaces that inspire meaningful conversations, bridge divides, and drive collective action to strengthen the values of pluralism and democracy. We are motivated by a vision to build societal resilience against divisiveness, promote mutual understanding, and create lasting social cohesion grounded in individual rights and autonomy. 

 

Meet the Team

 
  • Rohit Chopra

    Rohit Chopra is Professor in the Department of Communication at Santa Clara University and has been a Visiting Scholar at the Center for South Asia at Stanford University.

    His research covers several areas including: global online communities, with a focus on Hindu nationalist and right-wing groups; violence, hate speech, and rights in online and physical publics; the relationship of media, culture, and political memory; and disability in global culture and media. Rohit is the author of The Gita for a Global World: Ethical Action in an Age of Flux (Westland, 2021), The Virtual Hindu Nation: Saffron Nationalism and New Media (HarperCollins, 2019), and Technology and Nationalism in India: Cultural Negotiations from Colonialism to Cyberspace (Cambria, 2008).